Hurricane Igor Updates

[Updated] The latest update this morning [Sept 15] from the Bermuda Weather Service stated that “Hurricane Igor is a potential threat to Bermuda.” Their forecast map shows it passing by Bermuda this coming Sunday. Igor has weakened a little from its peak of 155mph winds, down to 145mph, however remains a category 4 hurricane.

The US National Hurricane Center said as of this morning Igor is 1,090 miles southeast of Bermuda, and is moving north north-west at about 9 mph. The NHC charts show Bermuda as having a 10% chance of hurricane force winds, and a 60% chance of having tropical storm force winds this weekend.

Meanwhile the second hurricane churning in the Atlantic, Julia, has strengthened into a category 4 and is carrying winds of 135mph.  This marks this first time in over ten years that two major hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic at the same time.  A third weather system has also formed in the Atlantic, however Tropical Storm Karl is not projected to come anywhere near Bermuda.

This morning’s [Sept 14] reports from around the internet on Hurricane Igor and its potential impact to Bermuda are below, for reports from yesterday see here and for various charts and videos of Igor see here.

The Weather Channel’s Twitter account said:

Bermuda (only 20 sq. mi.), lies at the center of forecast path of what will be a large Hurricane Igor Sunday!

Meteorologist Jim Cantore said:

Bermuda needs to watch closely

Igor is approaching Cat. 5 intensity. The wind field around this hurricane is ENORMOUS and is approaching Katrina and Ike size rapidly.

Weather Underground for the Associated Press said:

Igor, the strongest hurricane of the season, would continue playing chicken with Bermuda, though chances of the storm hitting the United States were low.

Michelle Pitcher of the Bermuda Weather Service said:

I anticipate a small craft warning to be issued for the 11:30pm forecast, valid Thursday, as both the winds and seas will have increased due to the influence of Hurricane Igor.

The models are in fairly good agreement on occasional showers on Friday with wind increasing from 20-25 knots to 20-30 knots as Hurricane Igor moves closer to Bermuda. Seas are also expected to be increasing to very rough on Friday Igor generating a southeasterly swell. The UK track of Igor becomes slower than the GFS and the ECMWF on Friday, but that creates only more of a discrepancy in the wave heights and not so much in the wind field as of yet. Saturday, the discrepancies in the models are much more pronounced, with the GFS remaining consistent with its track slightly to our west with Igor passing us on Sunday.

Businessinsurance.com said:

Hurricane Igor could strike Bermuda this weekend, catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide Corp. said Tuesday. In an analysis, Boston-based AIR said Igor is likely to remain a major hurricane through Friday.

AIR noted that the National Hurricane Center’s five-day forecast showed Igor reaching Bermuda early Sunday, although the storm was expected to weaken somewhat before reaching Bermuda.

A live updating Twitter feed showing tweets referencing Bermuda and Hurricane Igor is below:

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Update 1pm: BELCO’s news release about the hurricane is below, click Fullscreen for greater clarity:
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Update 2pm: Bermuda Weather Service’s forecast for Sunday:
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Winds easterly 35 to 45 knots gusts to 55 knots, increasing 75 to 85 knots gusts 100 knots later… Widespread heavy rain and showers with thunder, fair to very poor visibility. Very rough to high southerly swells… Seas increasing, inside the reef 3 to 6 ft… Outside the reef 20 to 25 ft…

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#HurricaneIgor #Weather

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